Reviews (9)

Amazing
The GG books are the greatest books written. Between Blair and her jelousy and Serena with her flings there was just so much action. It was non stop amazment and I think it only fit that every teenage girl experiance the GG phenomenon, it's worth the time spent in your room to read these amazing books!

Extraordinary Books!
I absolutely love the Gossip Girl book series! I read all five of the books in about 8 or 9 days ... they were that good!! Although the characters in the Gossip Girl series are mind-blowingly rich, it seems that they deal with the same problems as average teens, such as drugs, back-stabbing friends, and break-ups. When you think about it, that's really the messege of these books: that we're not all as different as we think we are. Also, Cecily von Ziegesar is such a convincing writer, sometimes I feel like I know Blair, Serena, Nate, and the rest of the gang, instead of them just being fictional characters! I recommend the Gossip Girl series to anyone who enjoys romance, drama, comedy, and rich people making fools of themselves!

It's actually pretty good!
Ok...This book wasn't like OMG I love it, but it was a really good book for teenagers. It has plenty of characters that you can get a feel for. It's a great book once you really get into it. You're kind of always wondering what's going to happen next.

AWSOME BOOKS!!!
this is such an awsome book, if your into girlie girlie type books...'ve 3 of them and am currently reading the 4th...you should tottally read these books. they're a little hard to get into but once you do your hooked! i hear the 5th is best so get reading...also i suggest the A-List novels...those are WAY better then these even though these books are good.

THE best books ever!
My friend gave me the first book. I was reluctant to read it. It didn't look great. The next week i had finished all 5 of them. My new favorite series. I loved them all sooooo much. i instantly felt compassion for blair, hatred toward serena, and attracted to nate, except for the weed. They were characters almost no one can relate to, but we love them anyway. If you haven't read these 5 treasures, do it now or regret it forever. ... Read more

Reviews (78)

Beginnings of a Very Good Series for Teenage Girls
Anna, a high school girl from New York's elite society decides to make the move across the country to live with her father in "Hollywierd." She is trying to reinvent herself into a new, more exciting Anna and within her first 24 hours in California she does just that.

Anna meets a college boy on the plane trip who invites her to a celebrity wedding. Anna accepts his invitation and attends the wedding where she meets Cammie, Sam, and Dee- The A-List. Cammie, Sam, and Dee are not overly happy with a new girl showing up to the wedding with the guy they all secretly have crushes on themselves. Anna's first few days in her new hometown are quite an adventure. This book ends with Anna attending her first day at the same school as the rest of the girls, setting up what is sure to be an entertaining school year to come.

What makes this book different from other series featuring young girls in California is that this one has some class. There are various references to classical music, poets, and theater which is refreshingly different. Anna, is very smart, well educated, and has good morals. Also, all the characters have at least some likable qualities. Cammie, who is easily the most difficult to like character even has a secret tender side that the reader is let in on. If the rest of the series keeps up these qualities then it should be an entertaining but intelligent read.

The Best Book Since A long Time
The A-List is a novel about a privileged girl named Ana who moves from New York to live with her dad in California for an internship with a literacy company. Ana is not your typical rich girl, she has depth, feeling, and wants more out of life than her new off the runway Prada handbag. Her parents are divorced, and her dad was hardly around since his work is his life and her mother will only do whats in her How to Live Rich Book. She leaves behind her best friend, Cynthia. Cynthia is everything that Ana isn't. Shes aggressive, outgoing, and not afraid to voice what she feels. Ana wishes to have some of these characteristics, and those wants are put to test the very moment she arrives on the plane heading towards Beverly Hills, California. She will encounter drunken old men, Cali. girls that have their noses stuck so far up that they don't even know whats bellow them, and a guy that could ultimately be "the one." Read and find out how Ana's life will end, or begin?

Wannabe Gossip Girl
It was interesting at first. It was catty and entertaining but as i turned each page, I could see how superficial and unrealistic the events in this book were. Its about a rich girl, Anna Percy, who decides to move to LA for a while so she can let loose. She gets to attend a celebrity wedding and meets hot guys and mean girls. All the characters in this book are spoiled, mean, brats with Louis Vuitton bags and money doesnt matter to them. Its too unrealistic and like Anna Percy said, "are these bad lines from a trashy teen novel?"...or something like that.

It tries to be like Gossip Girl and Sloppy Firsts but it doesnt succeed. I say, don't waste your time on this. Instead, try the ones I just compared with: Gossip Girl and Sloppy Firsts.

mediocre, at best
I picked up this book because it was recomended in the Gossip Girl series. I was, however, disappointed. The story is too slow-moving and the narrator was quite boring. I didn't like the style in which it was written, because it gave no depth or excitement to the story. I couldn't even get through the entire book, and had to stop midway. The A-List is one of those books that you have to keep putting down to go and do something else, otherwise your brain will explode from boredom. That's how I saw it, anyway. None of the characters were especially interesting, the plot pretty much reeked, and it moved. so. slowly. I definitley wasted my money on this book. (...)

very average
plotless. dry. there are many other words to describe dean's THE A-LIST, but most of them are too foul for FCC regulations.

The book is basically one girl's journey through L.A, while she falls in love with the wrong guy and gets on the bad side of the "a-list": bitchy Cammie, insecure Sam, and oversexed pseudo-hippie dee. when i first bought it and read it, i thought wow, this is like MEAN GIRLS, when it's really not. rereading it, it seemed boring, unfunny, and not even in the LEAST way similar to Gossip Girl, it's obvious parent.

there's a line between catty and stupid. THE A-LIST is neither. ... Read more

Book Description

The best of friends

From writing letters to going swimming, telling stories to finding lost buttons, Frog and Toad are always there for each other -- just as best friends should be.

Reviews (27)

Great For a first time reader!
My 6 year old loves this book! 5 wonderful storys! Every time we read it he wants me to send him a letter so he can get mail like frog and toad! I read these books when I was a very small child so its wonderful being able to read these books to my step-son! Great book!

Wonderful Books for Children
The "Frog and Toad" series have been around now for several decades. Each book contains several stories of the many adventures Frog and Toad have together. The age group recommended for the series is 4-8, but I think 8 is bit optimistic. The books are more appropriate for the 5 and 6 year olds. I read all these books to my children, and the Frog and Toad series were, in fact, some of the very first books they read by themselves. The language used is uniform and appropriate for the age group specified, and each story had a simple truth to it. On top of all this, the Frog and Toad books have always been wonderful value as well.

Friendship. Just the perfect blendship.
Recently I had the exceedingly wonderful chance to see the new musical of "Frog and Toad" at the Minneapolis Children's Company. A fabulous production in and of itself, it got me to thinking about the original books on which the musical is based. Like many children I was raised on such books as the lovely, "Frog and Toad Are Friends" and I've remembered some of the stories fairly well. It's amazing to me that Arnold Lobel was able to write stories that are patient simple without ever being dull or pedantic. These stories are clear and concise and unaccountably lovely. For your average early reader I not only recommend, "Frog and Toad Are Friends" but I recommend it to the reader's parents, grandparents, school crossing guards, dentists, air traffic controllers, and anybody else who might just happen to be able to speak the English language.

In "Frog and Toad Are Friends" the book consists of roughly five short stories. The first is one of my favorites. In it, Frog has decided to wake Toad from his hibernation and introduce him to the new spring. Toad's response is, "Blah". Frog tries a number of different methods of luring his friend into the warm beautiful day, the most touching of which is his simple argument, "But, Toad, I will be lonely". Frog's eventual solution is to fast-forward Toad's calendar a little, making it instantly May. Toad is a little shocked at the date but he's happy to see the spring weather. In the second tale, Frog is sick and Toad attempts to take care of him. His different methods of coming up with a story to tell his friend inevitably lead to his own illness, however, and soon it is Frog telling Toad a story instead. The story "A Lost Button" shows Frog and Toad out looking for one of Toad's lost buttons. They find a variety of them but none are Toad's. He walks off in a huff only to find the missing item on his living room floor. Feeling guilty about yelling at his best friend he sews all the buttons onto his jacket and then gives it as a gift to Frog. The next story is an atypical tale, mostly because it doesn't end with a preachy moral (not that Lobel's stories tend to, but this one was ripe for it). In it, Frog and Toad go swimming. Frog prefers to swim au naturale but Toad has a fastidious bathing suit that he is certain everyone will laugh at. After the two swim Toad refuses to get out of the water until the crowd that has gathered at the water's edge to see his suit disperse. They don't and Toad reveals a suit that was probably in style in 1923. Even Frog laughs too. Finally, in the last story Toad mentions to Frog that he is unhappy because he never gets letters. Frog writes him one but delivers it via their friend Snail (a character that in the play version of this tale says that he, "Puts the go in escargot"). The two wait and long before the snail arrives Frog tells Toad what is in the letter so that the two are better friends for it. Three days later, Toad is happy to receive his message.

This particular collection of Frog & Toad tales doesn't contain ALL the classics. You will not find the cookie eating tale here, nor the story about Toad dreaming about Frog growing smaller and smaller. Still, this is an excellent collection. I guess I never really noticed the subtlety of Lobel's illustrations. When you think of "Frog and Toad" you think of their realistic eyes and bodies. You think of their tweed jackets and elegant striped pants. What you may not think of is their capacity for subtle expressions. The image of Toad walking in his bathing suit, head held high, away from his fellow animals by the river is worth the price of admission alone. Ditto the shot of Toad clutching his aching noggin after ramming it into a wall.

I can't really stress the simple elegance of "Frog and Toad" to you if you haven't read them before. Needless to say, you won't even mind the fact that not a character in any of these tales ever uses a contraction. It's sometimes near impossible to write really good early reader books. I think Arnold Lobel set the bar way too high when he penned these extraordinary tales. If you've never read them, you are seriously missing out.

My almost 3 year old's favorite
The three book collection was hidden on my son's shelf from the time he received it from our priest as a gift when he was a new born. I found it a couple of months ago, and since then we have been reading the stories every evening and often during the day too. No matter how many of the stories I have read, my son asks for more and more. Since I have to read the stories every night, I am happy that they are adorable and entertaining for even the adult.

I Love Frog and Toad
Frog and Toad Are Friends is a great book. Frog is smart. Toad is not. Toad just copies other people. Frog thinks for himself. Frog and Toad are best friends, and they take care of each other. I like the pictures in this book. They tell a lot about the story. ... Read more

Book Description

Kit Tyler is marked by suspicion and disapproval from the moment she arrives on the unfamiliar shores of colonial Connecticut in 1867. Alone and desperate, she has been forced to leave her beloved home on the island of Barbados and join a
family she has never met. Torn between her quest for belonging and her desire to be true to herself, Kit struggles to survive in a hostile place. Just when it seems she must give up, she finds a kindred spirit. But Kit"s friendship with Hannah Tupper, believed by the colonists to be a witch, proves more taboo than she could have imagined and ultimately forces Kit to choose between her heart and her duty.
Elizabeth George Speare"s Newbery Award–winning novel portrays a heroine whom readers will admire for her unwavering sense of truth as well as her infinite capacity to love. ... Read more

Reviews (293)

ThE wItCh Of BlAcKbIrD pOnD--a GrEaT bOoK--
Kit Tyler was once a rich girl of Barbados, but upon her grandfather's death, she finds out that she now is poor. She goes aboard the ship, the Dolphin, heading for Connecticut Colony, and wishes to live a better life at her aunt's house. While on the way, she becomes friends with the captain's son, Nat Eaton, John Holbrook, a man planning on becoming a minister, and Prudence, a little girl. When she finally arrives at her destination, she tries to fit in with the Puritans, and to keep up with her lively cousin, Judith, and her gentle one, Mercy. After a number of different accidents in the family and outside, she finds becomes friends with an old Quaker woman named Hannah, that lives at Blackbird Pond, who is said to be a witch. Kit does not believe this, and she keeps on being friends with the old woman. But, the villagers see Kit as a threat to the community, since they do not trust her as being a friend to their witch, and she goes on trial. Just as she thinks she is doomed, Nat Eaton and Prudence save her. However, Kit discovers that she will never fit in with the Puritans, and planned on going on the Dolphin the next time the ship came. Finally, the ship docks, and she goes on it, for what seems to be a much better future.

My favorite part of the book was where Kit goes on trial. I thought of this at my favorite part for I think it is very interesting to hear how other people act to problems and try to blame it on someone else. I think it is very funny how people think of small problems and turn them into what sounds like a major disasters performed by a witch. I like the part where Prudence comes in, and stuns her own parents by doing what they had never thought she would be able to do, which was reading the Bible and writing her own name. I think it is not right when parents think very little about kids and think they are still their little babies that always need their parents to help them.

I recommend this book to kids the ages of 10 and up. I also recommend adults to read this book and learn the facts of how kids can do things without any help from their parents or any one else. I believe Elizabeth George Speare is a great author who has written many books that I have enjoyed. After reading this book, I came to really enjoy it. At first I thought it was very boring, but in the end, it became more interesting and fun. I also learned not to judge anyone by what people say about them, but you should always think about your judgement before actually thinking about if it is true or not. I now understand the meaning of "Never judge a book by its cover."

A FASCINATING TALE!
A witch? Someone thinks you are a witch? When Kit leaves Barbados on the lovely Dolphin ship to live in America with her Uncle, she is unprepared for what she encounters. What a surprise when she discovers that being able to read, swim, wear fancy clothes, as well as befriending a kind old woman is odd behavior for this town. In The Witch of Blackbird Pond, Elizabeth George Spears sends you on a reading adventure. The story includes a number of surprising and suspenseful events including a frightening witch hunt and a big outcry among some angry villagers against their government. Some parts of the story are a little boring, but the elaborate language and unpredictable moments bring you right back into the book. The climax of this book is the best part. It's unbeleivable and exciting. The main character, Kit, is very interesting. You will feel like you know her only after reading a few pages. Fiesty, wise, and stubborn are some of Kit's personality traits. You will also become very familiar with many of the other characters including Kit's two cousins, her Aunt and Uncle, Nat a seaman, and John and William two very interesting men, plus many more! This book has many hidden lessons in it. It teaches you about friendship, trust, bravery, genorosity, and happiness, It will fill you with sorrow and joy, and is a very adventurous story loved by many!

Diverse Religions, and History
Kit comes over to the 13 colonies becuae her grandfather died. When she arrives, she finds a place very diffrent from her former home, Barbados. She is forced by her strict uncle to be a solemn as the puritans, and to set aside her silk gowns and wear homespun dresses. she feels completly stifled by her new life, and one day, after almost cuasing her crippled cousin her teaching job, she breaks. She runs to the "meadow" where she meets Hannah Tupper, a Quaker who is shuned and thought to be a witch by many. All she really is is a kind old lady. She takes kit home and feeds her, and helps her be brave and get her cousins job back. kit goes back to Hannahs house and eventually meets Hannahs seafaring friend, none other than Nat, the son of the man who brought her to America.And yes Nat was on the boat the whole time kit was. Then one day Kit is accused of being a witch. Something not to be taken lightly in the 1600's. She is rescued by none other than Nat. Then hannah is going to be burned out of her house, or if the people have their way, in her house. But Kit goes and helps Hannah get out before the evil people come, and she gets her on a ship... whose ship? Guess. Nats. And so Hannahs gone and Kits life is drudging on a usual.... and then someone comes... like you can't guess who... and something happens...

Now that's what I call a "living" book
I just finished reading this book aloud to my 3 children. They are a tough audience but this book made the history lesson extra smooth. They were begging for "just one more chapter".

This book delves into the Puritan lifestyle,touches a bit on some of the sentiments of the colonists and their fierce independence, briefly touches on some of the archaic medical practices of the times, shows how easily innocent circumstances turned into witch hunts and sparked a conversation about how people can fall into a mob mentality and much more.

There is tons of information here to spark an interest in children to dig deeper. Our family highly recommends it!

Excellent lesson to be learned
I discovered this book years and years ago in the fourth grade. The thought of it stayed with me through the years. I bought the book for my friend's son a couple years ago and reread it to see if it was as good as I remembered. It was even better because as an adult I can see some of the most important themes of the book that weren't evident to a child. Tolerance and acceptance are perhaps the biggest lessons of all to take away from it. Independence is another. I will continue to buy this book every time a child close to me comes to the age where they can understand it. The plotline is enough to keep them interested while at the same time teaching them valuable life lessons, without them even knowing it. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

I'M SMARTER NOW!
This story is about kids that have difficulties with their friends and try to get them back. The story that I'm reading doesn't have 1 character, it has
millions of them. But most of all, my favorite character is JENNA. The setting is in a house, in a car, and in a school. My story also has lots and lots of photos and
d it also has tests in it. I chose this book because it is helping me to realize about my
friendship and the problems that I have with my friends. This is a book that teaches kids
about friendship troubles and how to get your friends back. I enjoyed the part I read with
JENNA and this new girl coming to the school that JENNA went to. But I know that this
story doesn't have tragedy or anything. The author of this book I'm reading is PATTI
KELLE and the illustrator is ANGELA MARTINI. This book makes me feel better now!

A SMART GIRLS GUIDE TO FRIENDSHIP TROUBLES
The art rocks!The story was great. But it was the illustration that I loved the most. ... Read more

Book Description

It only takes a few hours for Turner Buckminster to start hating Phippsburg, Maine. No one in town will let him forget that he's a minister's son, even if he doesn't act like one. But then he meets Lizzie Bright Griffin, a smart and sassy girl from a poor nearby island community founded by former slaves. Despite his father's-and the town's-disapproval of their friendship, Turner spends time with Lizzie, and it opens up a whole new world to him, filled with the mystery and wonder of Maine's rocky coast.
The two soon discover that the town elders, along with Turner's father, want to force the people to leave Lizzie's island so that Phippsburg can start a lucrative tourist trade there. Turner gets caught up in a spiral of disasters that alter his life-but also lead him to new levels of acceptance and maturity.
This sensitively written historical novel, based on the true story of a community's destruction, highlights a unique friendship during a time of change.Author's note. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Richie's Picks: LIZZIE BRIGHT AND THE BUCKMINSTER BOY
"From so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been, and are being evolved."
--Charles Darwin, THE ORIGIN OF SPECIES

"Like angels appearing in the sky,
whales are proof of God."
--Cynthia Rylant, THE WHALES

Because it is based upon a series of true, race-related events in Maine during the early 1900s, LIZZIE BRIGHT AND THE BUCKMINSTER BOY might make you think of Karen Hesse's WITNESS. Several of the "good guy" characters--Mrs. Carr and the elder Mrs. Hurd, for example--have a charm reminiscent of the idiosyncratic folk in BECAUSE OF WINN-DIXIE. But, because of the depth of the evil behind the tragic real events upon which the fictional story of Lizzie and Turner is built, the feelings of despair and anger with which we're left evoke memories of such books as MISSISSIPPI TRIAL, 1955 and TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD.

The enchanting Lizzie Bright Griffin, a girl of great strength and few words, belongs to the youngest of many generations of African Americans who have called Malaga Island home.

"Lizzie held close against her grandfather as the people of Malaga Island came out from the pine woods, gathered around their preacher on the shore to hear what had been said. Before they turned, Lizzie felt her grandfather ebb as though his soul were passing out of him, the way the last waves of a falling tide pass into still air and are gone. "She took a deep breath, and she wasn't just breathing in the air. She breathed in the waves, the sea grass, the pines, the pale lichens on the granite, the sweet shimmering of the pebbles dragged back and forth in the surf, the fish hawk diving to the waves, the dolphin jumping out of them.
"She would not ebb.
"Then she turned with her grandfather to tell the gathering people of Malaga that times had moved on, and they would have to leave their homes."

Across the water, on the mainland, Turner is the new kid in town. And even worse--from his perspective--he's the new minister's son.

"Turner Buckminster had lived in Phippsburg, Maine, for almost six whole hours.
"He didn't know how much longer he could stand it."

Here, as with the fight over the towers in Elaine Konigsburg's THE OUTCASTS OF 19 SCHUYLER PLACE, the root of conflict involves money and property values. Phippsburg's shipbuilding industry is dying, and the local "boys with the bucks" reckon that tourism may be the source of future prosperity if only the "less desirable" portion of the community can be run out of town.

" 'Would you look at that monkey go? Look at her go. She climbing down or falling?' Deacon Hurd watched the last leap to the ground. 'Sheriff Elwell, I believe she thought you might shoot her.'
" 'Wouldn't have been any trouble, Mr. Hurd. One less colored in the world.' "

The character who is most difficult to decipher in this story of Turner's coming of age is his father. Reverend Buckminster was hired by the church leadership and is supposed to be serving God. However, he is being pulled in various directions: by the white community, by his own knowledge and conscience (or sometimes lack thereof), and by the beliefs of the maturing son he apparently loves, albeit in a stiff, 1912 Congregationalist ministerial fashion.

"And suddenly, Turner had a thought that had never occurred to him before: he wondered if his father really believed a single thing he was saying.
"And suddenly, Turner had a second thought that had never occurred to him before: he wondered if he believed a single thing his father was saying."

Reverend Buckminster is but one of several characters who end up throwing Turner a curveball.

The innocent, against-all-odds friendship that develops between Turner and Lizzie repeatedly caused me shivers, delight, and despair. It is first among the many reasons why LIZZIE BRIGHT AND THE BUCKMINSTER BOY is an entertaining and important piece of YA historic fiction. (...) ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (3)

Read this book!
The scene: 1844, Caldwell, Colorado, high in the Rocky Mountains. Fourteen-year-old Daniel LeBlanc lives with his aunt and uncle while his father is out hunting and fishing. Daniel's father is a Mountain Man, an experienced trapper who knows the mountains, forests, and streams like he knows the back of his hand. Then one day he disappears! No one can find any trace of him.

Daniel is, understandably, hit hard by the loss of his father. He swears that he is hearing a voice --- a voice that is telling him frightening things about his father. He's also having severe dreams at night. Frightened by these hallucinations and omens, Daniel goes out to search for his father. Daniel has many escapades and adventures. One particular stormy night, Daniel sees a scar-faced man stealing horses. The thief sees Daniel, too, and Daniel barely escapes being shot. In fear, he joins a wagon train heading west. After many long months and many obstacles, Daniel finally finds his father. How does Daniel come to understand that he and his father aren't the only ones in danger? Read this book to find out!

I like to learn about the lives of people in America's past, so I thought this book was really informative and awesome. I also liked this book because it was exciting and full of adventure and action, and I never knew what was going to happen next! If you want an exciting book to read then read this book!

--- Reviewed by Ashley, age 13, Book Boss

Can't agree with School Lib Journal
(...) This is an adventure story, and on that level it works very well. In addition, the characters are diverse, rich, three-dimensional, funny, and complex. No simple formula writing here, though you can see the capture-escape-recapture-escape rhythm that you also see in the best of authors in this genre. Plus, it's a coming-of-age novel. Daniel goes off to find his father, and ends up finding himself. I'd compare it to Gary Paulsen's _Tucker_ series, or even (if you're old enough to remember) _True Grit_. Many YA readers and adult readers alike will find this book a very rewarding read.

Furthermore, this book shows a more accurate picture of the impact of white settlement in the Amer West than most of the popular YA historical fiction. There is no whitewash of the settlers, and no romantic images of the native Americans, either. Compared to some of the "Dear America" books, for example, _Daniel's Walk_ is far and away more historically accurate.

Students especially should get hold of it. (...) It's rare enough that we come across a decent story based on decent historical research.

An exciting new historical novel.
Daniel's mother died in childbirth when he was just a small boy. After that, his father, a fur trapper, left Daniel to be raised by relatives in Missouri. Aunt Judith believes Daniel's father is a good-for-nothing responsible for her sister's death. She and her husband discourage Daniel from ever searching for his father. But a mysterious voice in the night warns Daniel that his father is in danger. Determined to save him, he sets out to cross the country and find his father in the Rocky Mountains. Daniel joins up with a wagon train and meets a headstrong girl named Rosalie as well as a horse thief determined to kill him. But even if Daniel survives the dangers of the overland journey, can he escape the horse thief's vengeance and find his father before it's too late? This was an exciting historical novel with a new perspective on the Oregon Trail. ... Read more

Book Description

When a close friend or family member dies, it can be difficult for children to express their feelings. This book helps boys and girls understand that death is a natural complement to life, and that grief and a sense of loss are normal feelings for them to have following a loved one's death. Titles in this sensitively presented series explore the dynamics of various relationships experienced by children of preschool through early school age. Kids are encouraged to understand personal feelings and social problems as a first step in dealing with them. Written by psychotherapist and counselor Pat Thomas, these books promote positive interaction among children, parents, and teachers. The story lines are simple and direct--easily accessible to younger children. There are full-color illustrations on every page. (Ages 4-7) ... Read more

Reviews (2)

This IS the book for answering kids questions!!
This book covers much more than things live and then they die. It talks about how you feel and invites the child to tell how they are feeling. Besides talking about death it explains funerals and what the purpose is. The thing I liked best about this book was how it explained the after life. No matter what your religious beliefs their explanation of after life is perfect and doesn't limit it's self to any specific belief. It goes on to discuss this in terms a child can understand "sometimes it helps if you think of a soul as a single rain drop, joining a great big ocean". We got a few books to help us explain and answer our 4 ½ year olds questions but this one covers everything, it's the only one we would have needed.

GREAT!
I bought this book for my 5 year old when his grandmother died. My son was dealing with some serious grief. We were searching for any way that we could to help him. He loves this book. It has questions to go over with your child that really open up the communication and help children deal with the emotions that they are feeling. This book is a favorite in our house that we read every night and have great happy memories of our loved one. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

Written and illustrated by the creators of the popular Dino Life Guides for Families, this book uses precise language and humorous illustrations to offer specific ways to be a friend and specific ways not to be one.A special section on how to deal with bosses and bullies has valuable information for young children going forth in the world and encountering these situations for the first time. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Excellent book for Beginer Friends
My two boys love this book. Its a childs simplistic version of "How to be a Friend" and it is great. Right on their level and easy for them to relate to. The Arthur type characters are appealing to children and they make the book their choice for the evening and want me to read it again and again :) I have the hardback, it was a great find.

Great guide for all kids.
This book is an excellent tool for parents and teachers to use with kids in the often times daunting world of social relatedness. Even kids who are very social would enjoy the way these gentle reminders are presented. Highly recommended for the special needs arena of Aspberger's and High Functioning Autism. Our autistic son loved and responded well to the almost "social story" approach. This truly spelled out a lot of social do's and don't's for him. His typical sister loved it as well. As a parent I highly recommend this book be in every kindergarden and first grade and second grade classroom. I bought several copies. ... Read more

Reviews (41)

addictive
Gossip Girl series is about a girl basically spying on these teenagers in high school, either freshmen or seniors, living in New York City's Upper East Side. If you read the first gossip girl, you'll read the fifth, even the sixth... even if it's only because you are wondering if Blair got into Yale or ever has sex with Nate. Or if you are dying to know about how Serena got kicked out of private school... well in the fifth one, I Like it Like that, you find out neither of those things. But you do find out more about Jenny's boyfriend and Dan being a poet. I Like It Like That is as good as the other four, and it makes you wait until the sixth comes out. It shows no signs of Gossip Girl series ending, and it kind of makes you wonder when you will ever find out the stuff you really want to know. But it's Gossip Girl... you know you love her.

You Know You Love Me
I Like It Like That, the fifth novel from the Gossip Girl series was the least eventful out of the five but still kept me on the edge of my seat. Blair, Serena, and Serena's older brother Erik spent their spring break on the slopes in Sun Valley while Aaron and the rest of Blair's family is off surfing on one of the many Hawaiian Islands she has already frequently traveled to. To Blair's dismay, her ex-boyfriend Nate, his current girlfriend Georgie, and Chuck were staying at Georgie's Sun Valley mansion the exact same dates. Blair developed a crush on Erik as their trip progressed which landed Serena in an uncomfortable position. Back in New York, Dan began to lose interest in his poetic partner Mystery and realized he was still in love with Vanessa as she realized the same. Jenny became overly obsessed with her boyfriend Leo and stalked him while he was meandering through the busy Upper East and West sides of Manhattan taking care of his jobs chores and job as a dog walker. Jenny's best friend Elise was attracted to Jenny's brother Dan but Dan knew it was not appropriate to have feelings for a girl his younger sister's age. Nothing serious happened between Blair and Erik which Serena was relieved to learn. After break, when school started again, as always, many rumors floated about regarding the flawless duo. I wonder if Blair is still secretly lusting after Nate and does he has feelings for her? I am looking forward to reading all the future Gossip Girl books and discovering whom the secretive gossip queen actually is.

In my opinion, the first four books in the Gossip Girl series were more enjoyable and had deeper plot lines. I would recommend the entire Gossip Girl series for girls age thirteen through fifteen years old. They are a quick read and the entire series could be covered in just a few short weeks. This is great summer reading full of flirty fun and romance. The books are entertaining and easy to toss into a beach bag or suitcase. Blair, Serena, Dan, Nate, Vanessa, Jenny, Erik and the rest of the Gossip Girl characters are loveable and find themselves in situations that girls can relate to. Okay, Cecily von Ziegesar, bring on Gossip Girl number six. I know that I will be ready to sink my teeth into the next novel as soon as it is available.

I Love them all
READ GOSSIP GIRL! ALL OF THEM!! THEY ARE AWSOME BEST BOOKS IN THE ENTIRE WORLD...NEXT TO HARRY POTTER OF COURSE! READ! READ READ!

Dangerously Addictive
The whole Gossip Girl series has all the gossip anyone could ever want in a book. The tales of socialites lives are just so interesting that you want to be part of the story. It is extremely difficult to even put the book down until the final words are read, and even then you just want some more of it.

i dont like it like that...
After seeing quite quite a few reviews and a woman clearly over thirty buying this book, i decided to give it a go. The book revolves around a few disgustinly stuck up socialites. It's all about wearing designer clothes, partying, and of course-getting adorable rich boys. Gossip girl seems to be filled with things people gossip about. Silly things. Stupid things. And for lack of better words, this is a horrible book. ... Read more

Amazon.com

For sophomores John and Lorraine, the world feels meaningless; nothing is important. They certainly can never please their parents, and school is a chore. To pass the time, they play pranks on unsuspecting people. It's during one of these pranks that they meet the "Pigman"--a fat, balding old man with a zany smile plastered on his face. In spite of themselves, John and Lorraine soon find that they're caught up in Mr. Pignati's zest for life. In fact, they become so involved that they begin to destroy the only corner of the world that's ever mattered to them. Originally published in 1968, this novel by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Paul Zindel still sings with sharp emotion as John and Lorraine come to realize that "Our life would be what we made of it--nothing more, nothing less." ... Read more

Reviews (304)

The Best Book I've Ever Read!
The Pigman is the best book I have ever read (along with The Pigman's Legacy and The Pigman And Me). John and Lorraine are best friends who are in highschool. John smokes and drinks, while Lorraine admits that she is a little paranoid. John and Lorraine switch back and forth from typing each chapter, and it really makes the reader get to, kind of know them.

While doing prank phone calling, Lorraine ends up calling Mr. Pignati. John and Lorraine first lie to him, saying that they are part of a charity company. At first, John just wants the Pigman's money, but after they get to know him, they start to really care about him.

The first few chapters are very funny, espcecially the ones that are told by John. The entire book is a great fiction story. I would suggest to anyone who reads The Pigman, and likes it, should read the sequal to it, The Pigman's Legacy. After that, I would also suggest to read The Pigman And Me. It's about Paul Zindel's teenage years, and what he based The Pigman on.

Pigman Great Book
For me The Pigman was by far one of the best books I have ever read.This book was assigned to me from my english class.At first I thought it was a little slow but once I read to chapter 4 I was hooked.I read the whole book in 4 days.This book is so interesting because it shows 2 perspectives.Lorraine is more conservative and a good girl while John is all out.John at first just wants Mr. Pignati's money but once they both spend time with the Pigman they are great friends.The book is sad at the end, but I think it is a great ending."Friends stick with friends"That is what the ending is saying.

I hope you read this book!

The Understanding of Teenagers
I believe this book was an excellent well spoken book. It is about to ordinary kids and is somewhat different in the ways they were brought up. These two kids like normal teens do decided to play some pranks on random people and see which of them can keep the random person on the phone the longest. This ends up to be a way to introduce/ bring in, a character called Mr. Piñata (The Pigman). As it turns out the kids make Mr. Pignati believe that they are calling him on behalf of a donation. The Pigman is a nice man so he believes the children and invites them over his house to give them there money. I won't give out the rest because I believe this will be a good book for you to read if you're a 14 year old or an adult. I believe people 13 and below would have a hard time understanding the books message. This book is a crazy adventure that you would enjoy with hilarious conversations and plots. I don't no if you'll actually life but you'll have a smile on your face. This book has two narrators, John and Lorraine. The switch being the narrator after each chapter and will talk about the scenes and how the felt in each one. You'll also catch a glimpse of the parents and like all Paul Zindel Books the parent have problems of there own. We'll I highly encourage you guys to read this book. Or maybe you have and just wanted some insight on how other people felt. That's why I read the reviews.

A pleasure to read the voices of these two teens
This is probably the first book that I ever read as a teenager (or thereabouts) that made me feel like I could really identify with the characters contained therein.

The Pigman is told in the words of John and Lorraine, two high school sophomores who have decided to write down the story of Mr. Pignati, an old man who they wind up befriending. John is a handsome, overly-confident prankster, while Lorraine is a shy, brainy girl. They both have family problems, and the book is really as much about them as it is about "the Pigman."

Teenaged readers will enjoy reading about kids who are somewhat like themselves, and reading the book in their own voices. The pranks that John pulls are really funny, even if they eventually get him into trouble, and seeing Mr. Pignati through their initially distrustful eyes makes us get to know him by degrees, and appreciate who he is.

Overall, this is a fun book that may spark an interest in reading. Zindel has a real knack for getting inside the heads of his young protagonists, and he has a very authoritative anti-authoritarian voice, if that makes any sense.

comunication's class review; by nick

Paul Zindel wrote a book called The Pigman; This is about two sixteen-year-olds that take advantage of an old man (with an interesting secret!); by asking him to give money to a nonexistent charity.
When they come to Mr. Pignati's house to collect his check, they find a lonely and slightly eccentric retiree who greets them warmly and with respect. A friendship grows, and John and Lorraine are trusted with their friend's house (alone!).
When this trust is betrayed, the teenagers must reflect the meaning of their actions and the effect their actions have on other people. My opinion of this book. It's a great book that really makes you think about what life has to offer you and maybe just think about what your actions do to others and how it makes them feel. Everyone should read this book it's received many awards.
I can relate to this because I used to go to my grandma's house and keep her company. She was always so excited to see me; just like Mr. Pignati she loved my company!
... Read more

Book Description

Hollis Woods has been in so many foster homes she can hardly remember them all. She even runs away from the Regans, the one family who offers her a home.

When Hollis is sent to Josie, an elderly artist who is quirky and affectionate, she wants to stay. But Josie is growing more forgetful every day. If Social Services finds out, they’ll take Hollis away and move Josie into a home. Well, Hollis Woods won’t let anyone separate them. She’s escaped the system before; this time, she plans to take Josie with her.

Yet behind all her plans, Hollis longs for her life with the Regans, fixing each moment of her time with them in pictures she’ll never forget. ... Read more

Reviews (24)

Review of "Pictures of Hollis Woods"
This book is a pretty good book. The two main characters are Hollis Woods, a twelve-year-old foster girl who was abandoned at the age of one hour, and Josie, a retired art teacher. It begins with a description with a picture entitled "X" and there are descriptions of other pictures every one or two chapters. In the story Hollis runs away from Josie to her last family that almost adopted her. Then she realizes she needs Josie and Josie needs her.
This book was pretty good, but had some rough spots, so I took one star away. I read this books first when I was ten, and it got me interested.
The book is for ages 9-12.

Wonderful Story of a Wonderful Character
Pictures of Hollis Woods is the very moving story of an abandoned girl who has difficulty fitting into foster homes and is constantly getting in trouble for running away. What we get in this novel are two narratives: one in the present as Hollis tries to fit in with Josie, an older woman slowing succumbing to dementia; and one in the form of flashbacks told through description of pictures Hollis has drawn which tells the story of the previous summer when Hollis thought she had finally found a home. Slowly, these two stories are drawn together as Hollis tries to protect herself and Josie as well as come to terms with the events of the previous summer.

All in all, Ms. Giff has written a wonderful novel. The switching between the two plots in handled well and Hollis is a beautifully drawn character. She is difficult and introverted, but she is an artist and is ultimately able to overcome her defensiveness and become part of a family--even an extended family. I would highly recommend this novel to young and old alike.

BESTBOOKINTHEWORLD!!
O my gosh. When I first read this I thought-just another BORING LAME book to read. BUT WAS I WRONG. I HATE reading, then when I had to read this book for a report~I feel in luv wit it!! All of my friends are reading it and the school ordered 3 more because so many people want it!! Man, I am such a trend setter!! Thanks for making such a good book- I recommend u read it!!

Pictures of Hollis Woods
Reading this book about an orphan who longed for a home and a family to love her was a treat. Hollis Woods was brought up in unloving foster homes that didn't understand her and were always tearing her down, always thinking the worst of her. Out of her deeply rooted hurts, she pushed people away until the Regan family took her for a summer. By their looking for the good in her, they found it. But because of misunderstanding and a tragic accident, Hollis runs away from the only family she ever felt loved by, a family she wanted to belong to. Moving in with Josie, an old artist with signs of Alzheimer's, Hollis feels accepted and needed, but their relationship is doomed, too. Every other chapter features Hollis's flashbacks to explain the accident with the Regans in the unique form of pictures Hollis had drawn. Hollis is a believable and lovable character the reader can fully empathize with. She can help us see others who might have a reputation for being 'trouble' as merely hurting.

Good but not great
Pictures of Hollis Woods was written by Patricia Reilly Giff. This novel is about a young girl trying to find a foster home that she likes. So far all the families she has been with she's ran away from because she says that she doesn't fit in. Then one day, her social worker brought her to a lady named Josie. At first Hollis was nervous like she always is, but Josie made her feel right at home. Hollis felt comfortable with Josie because they shared something in common with each other...they both are artists. Hollis loves to draw and Josie is a sculptor. Eventually Hollis realizes something that could take her away from Josie. To keep this secret to herself, throughout the story she is trying to keep Josie away from her social worker.

One of the reasons that I didn't like this book was because it moved at a very slow pace. I couldn't really get into it because it's nothing that I can relate to. It also didn't have a lot of interesting chapters. They were mainly all about Josie and Hollis and what they do and where they go which, in my opinion, isn't that great of a book.

Another reason that I didn't like this novel was that it had very good details, but too many. One of the only things I did like about the book was the ending. In the end something great happens and it makes you feel excited and happy for Hollis and Josie. But leading up to that moment in the story isn't that good or as exciting. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

It's pretty good!
I think the reason I liked this book so much was because I'm almost a 6th grader and it shows how you can survive middle school.
This is a great book for ages 10-13.I thought there were no more good books out there until I found Click Here.My friend was borrowing it from one of her other friends, and I had to go out and buy it.
If there isn't a sequel I think I might DIE!

great novel
This book is about a girl named Erin.P.Swift, she makes her diary on the computer, she is a computer whiz. She writes in it almost every day about her life at school, Molly Brown Middle school. She joins intranet club it is something like internet club but not really. They make a school web site ,and Erin has to take care of that disc. Erin also keeps her diary on a disc. Her friend Jilly wants her to join the school play. So she joins the school play. But the play is the same day when she has to open the schoolweb site. But will her diary be the new school web site.
I think this is a really great book.

Click Here
The book (click Here)I read was a very good book. I enjoyed it because of the fact it was about friends that did not get put in the same team and they were heartbroken and the ups and downs of their school year without each other, read more to find out about what it is like with out your best friends.Some parts are boring but over all it is a good book! I was going to stop at the boring parts but I kept reading it and glad that I did.

Click Here
-I loved this book so much I wanted to read it twice. It wasn't my book it was my friends. But I really want to buy it! I think 10-13 year old would enjoy it but so would anybody else! I really think this book needs a sequel!

-Erin is used to being with her best friend, Jilly, 24/7. When they start middle school they are split for the first time. With3 new friends and a crush on one of them she is starting to get used to having different friends. But then she loses something super special! Read the book to find out what!

My review for Click Here
This book is really fun to read. I couldn't put it down! I think girls through the ages of 10 and 14 will love this book. It deals with having to go through embarassment, dealing with friends, boys, and other things that you go through in 7th grade. I hope Denise Vega comes out with a sequal to this, or writes other kids books 'cause I loved this book!!! ... Read more

Book Description

My Friend with Autism is a coloring book to help peers and siblings understand autism and Asperger's Syndrome. It is the exceptional result of a parent's determination to help her special needs son fit in with his peers, and to foster tolerance and understanding among her son's friends and schoolmates. Author Beverly Bishop teaches high school computer classes and is the technology coordinator for a private K-12 school. She wrote My Friend with Autism for the teachers and students in her son's elementary school class. By helping others understand autism, she is able to encourage tolerance and a positive approach to classroom integration for special needs children. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Perfect for Children and Adults
This is a wonderful book for explaining what a child with Autism is like and how it might effect their behavior.

The children's coloring book section is really good and perfect even for the pre-school level.

The parent section is awesome. It is a wondeful section explaining to the parent how to discuss each page with their child and gives a wonderful understanding for the parent at their level as well.

We orginally bought to give to a couple of parents in our son's play group whose children were starting to ask questions about their friend and why his behavior was different.

We are now buying for all our friends and family (even the grandparents) to have for their own.

A must have book.

Great first resource for children and adults
My five-year-old daughter was recently diagnosed with high functioning autism. It was no surprise to my wife and I as we had been dealing with the effects of autism for several years and had done much research on our own. The formal diagnosis made us realize it was time to try and explain to friends and relatives what autism is and why our daughter acts the way she does. This book has been extremely helpful. It was the first book we read with our eight year old who has been struggling with the fact her little sister is different. The adult section is also very well written and was also the first resource we used for grand parents and other adults in our daughters life. We plan to purchase many more copies. Thank You Beverly Bishop!

HATS OFF TO THIS BOOK!
This book does a wonderful service in describing autism and its related spectrum condition, Asperger's. The gently written text; the clear explanations and the child friendly form of coloring in the pictures provides a safe ground in exploring spectrum behaviors from a child's point of view. How I wish I had owned this book when I was a child!

This is a must-have for educators, parents and persons in related fields who work with people who are on the spectrum. This book is really for everybody because it opens new doors and provides a fresh approach in discussing spectrum behaviors.

A "Must Have" For Every Educational Library
"My Friend with Autism" is a wonderful educational tool for teachers, peers of autistic children, and other family members. This book is highly informative, yet simple to understand, and short enough to keep the younger readers' attention. I have bought 4 of these books for my autistic son's teachers, and plan to buy more for my extended family. I will also be using this book next fall to educate my son's first grade class at the beginning of the school year.

Thank you, Ms. Bishop, for creating a brilliant tool!

Buy one for every student in your child's class!
This is the best book ever for the peers of students with autism. The author recommends buying one for every student in the class, and I agree!! The teacher can easily use this book as a lesson plan for helping kids understand an autistic peer. Then, the students take it home for their parents to read, and many new doors are opened for the autistic student! This is a must read for adults and children!! ... Read more

Book Description

A Prince
and a Pauper

Jemmy, once a poor boy living on the streets, now lives in a castle. As the whipping boy, he bears the punishment when Prince Brat misbehaves, for it is forbidden to spank, thrash, or whack the heir to the throne. The two boys have nothing in common and even less reason to like one another. But when they find themselves taken hostage after running away, they are left with no choice but to trust each other.

Reviews (101)

AWESOME BOOK -MUST READ IT !
This story is about a prince who is bored out of his mind and thinks he should run away from home. This is book is good for people who like funny and short books in grades 4 and up.
Some of the main characters are Hold Your Nose Billy, Jemmy, Prince Brat, Petunia, and Cutwater. Hold Your Nose Billy and Capiton Nips are really mean people who like garlic. They kidnapp Prince Brat and Jemmy. Prince Brat is a boy who you think has a perfect life but he does not think so. He thinks he has a boring life. Petunia is a bear who saves Jemmy and Prince Brats lives.
The main part of the story begins when Prince Brat and Jemmy run away from home and get kidnapped. It is set in a forest and in a palace in an imaginary time long ago.
I think the theme is never run away. Just stay home with your family. Sometimes you don't realize how good you have it. Also, learning to read is very important.

A book about two boys that eventually beome friends.
Hi!I read a book called "The Whipping Boy," by Sid Fleishchman.Do you like a book with humor and suspense,well than this is a book for you!This is a book for 3rd to 4th graders to read and enjoy.This book is about Prince Horace better known as Prince Brat and his own whipping boy named Jemmy.In this book they encounter close calls when they runaway from the castle.I can't tell you what happens at the end,so you will have to read the book to find out.I liked this book because it deals with some real problems and makes you think more about people who are poorer than you are.So the next time you want to read a good novel,go and get "The Whipping Boys!"

Whipping boy
Sid Fleischman's book, "The Whipping Boy" is about a king who will not punish his son so he has another child who gets whipped and punished instead of the prince. The prince deiced one day that he could not take getting in trouble and having the whipping boy get punished for his wrong doings. One night the prince deiced to run away with the whipping boy. On there journey they get captured by "Hold-Your-Nose-Billy," and Cutwater. The criminals deiced that they are going to keep them hostage. Jemmy did not like the prince to much because he had to take all of the punishment for all of those bad things that he did. Since they both got captured they had to become friends with each other, even though jimmy was from the lower class of people and the prince was from the upper class of people they had to get along. The whipping boy thinks of a plan, his plan is to escape to the sewers. The prince on the other hand does not think that it would be a good idea because he has never been in the sewers. The whipping boy has been in the sewers his life before becoming a whipping boy. Jemmy used to trap and sell rats that were in the sewer that does how he now all of the turns and different things. The prince and the whipping boy are trying to get along, become friends, and break though the barriers that are between them. The prince is finding out how Jemmy used to live, also the prince is coming immune to Jemmys life. The prince and the whipping boy are starting to take responsibility for there own actions. The prince does not like how Jemmy used to live. They find interest in each other. The prince is getting used to how Jemmy had to live.
They finally deiced that they have had enough of the kidnapper. Jemmy told the prince to follow me and they went though the tunnels. They finally get away though the tunnel because of how well Jemmy knew the tunnels. The prince did not want to go though the tunnels because he did not think that Jemmy did not know them until Jemmy showed him that he could get through them.
I thought that is was a very good idea for the prince and "The Whipping Boy" finally deiced to run away. I would have not liked being the whipping boy. I liked this book very much and I really do not like to read. I thought that it was easy for younger kids to understand to. I really liked this book.

The Whipping Boy
Sid Fleischman's book The Whipping Boy is a really good book. It is about a prince who got the nick name "Prince Brat" because he is a mischiouf maker because his pranks aren't funny. He has a whipping boy named Jemmy who is smart and clever. One day prince brat runs away and takes Jemmy with him. They don't get far before two cutthroats stop them. One of their names is hold-your-nose-Billy and the other is cutwater. They take Jemmy and "Prince Brat" into their cabin. Jemmy and "Prince Brat" must outwit the two and become friends, except prince brat keeps betraying Jemmy. The adventure will take them through alot of adventure. I recomend buying it.

Enjoyable while including major Social Issues
Sid Fleischman's book, "The Whipping Boy," is about a runaway prince and his whipping boy, who discover adventure on their journey, and surprisingly find friendship in one another. The boys' adventures include them being abducted by two criminals, "Hold-Your-Nose-Billy," and Cutwater. The criminals kidnap the boys and plan to hold them for ransom from the King.
"The Whipping Boy," focuses on the distinctions and differences of social classes throughout the book. These differences are vividly illustrated through Prince Brat (Horace) and Jemmy, the whipping boy. Prince Horace, who is from a high social class and is considered very important, is never whipped. However, Jemmy, who is from a lower class, serves as a, "whipping boy," and takes the punishments for Prince Brat.
However, "The Whipping Boy," also looks at the overcoming of these class barriers. At the beginning of the story, there was a definite difference between the upper class and the lower class. This difference is intensified in the description o